Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-22
RAILROAD MATTERS.
The Interests of tho Central Vermont in
the New Hampshire Fight.

the New Hampshire Fight.
A Concord despatch of Tuesday says
The House to-day passed the Senate bill
extending the charter of the Lake Shore
road to 1890. This bill effectually dis
poses of the bill introduced in the House
toallow the Dover and Winnepesaukee
railroad, under lease of the Boston and
Maine, to extend its line from Alton bay
to Clifford. 1t is minated that the Upper
Coos railroad for which the people in that
section have subscribed $4,000, will not
be built unless the Boston and Maine
people succeed in passing the Hazen BILL
which does not seem at this time very
probable. They will undoubtedly 90 on
making negotiations to build, however, In
the hope of influencing the members of
the Legislature from that section to sup
port the Boston and Maine bill, but should
Boston, Concord and Montreal consolidate
with the Concord, or be operated by 1t,
the Upper Coos road would he "A feeder
for it, and all traffic would have to pass
over the same Boston, Concord and Mont
real road.
Ex-Gov. Gregory Smith of Vermont
was to have addressed the railroad com
mittee this evening on the Central Yer.
mont railroad bill, but a telegram an
nounce5 that he is i'll and cannot appear
for several days, perhaps.
&. w. Writer'S, the attorney for the Cen
tral Vermont railroad, appeared before
the railroad committee, explaining the
absence Of Gov. Smith. He stated that any
proposed change in the railway system in
New Hampshire frightened them. They
were afraid of being bottled up in case OF
change of control of the New Hampshire
roads from the present management. Gov.
Smith had prepared figures and state
nents showing the business of the road
and the necessity for the proposed road
through Cheshire, Sullivan and Merrimac
counties. AS soon as Gov. Smith recover
ed he would appear before the committee
and present the case of the Central Yer.
mont road The bill had not been drawn
more definitely as 10 the location OF the
ROAD bechu-e the country through when
it would pass was very mountainous and
there hHC not been time to have it sur
veNed OF projected.
In an interview with Mr.. Writers. that
gentleman SAID the Central Vermont had
TWO ways Of getting into Boston. One was
over the Cheshire and F'itchburgh roads,
The other over the Northern, Concord and
Boston and Lowell lines. The FItchburg
was tying up with the Boston and Albany,
aud there were rumors that the New York
Central would obtain control of both
The Central Vermont did very large
Western business and the New York Cen
tral was a rival in the business. 1t could
easily ne Sttll llldJ IHt CtuJrul NtfIllOuU
would then be in a very embarrassing sit
uation, as it would have to 20 over its
rival lines and be subjected to whatever
rates it might see fit to charge. On the
other hand, the Boston and Maine was
undoubtedly aiming to make through
line with the Canadian Pacific, and this
combination would make another rival
line. Ii the Central Vermont could once
get through New Hampshire to the Mas
sachusetts line it could easily find way
10 get into Boston, as it would lie in a
position to make terms with roads
| there. The Grand Trunk worked in h&r-
mony with the Central Vermont. The bill
| introduced by the Central Vermont grew
out of the different bills introduced IN the
New Hampshire Legislature. The road
controlled the Canada Atlantic, and over
| it was doing the lumber business of New
England. The Central Vermont could
bring goods from Chicago to New Hamp-
| shire practically over its own lines, but in
getting from New Hampshire to Boston it
| had to pass over four different roads,
which made it very announcement. Fault
had been found with the bill that it was
too indefinite, that it was III fact a general
| railroad law for the western part of the
State The bill would have to be amend
ed and made more definite. The proposed
road would probably start opposite Spring
| field and run through several towns to
| Charlestown and thence to any point most
convenient on the State line. The people
In the western part of the State wanted
the road built.